From LAIst.com
By Matt Tinoco
Los Angeles and the bicycle have a love/hate relationship. With gorgeous weather and tons of space, the city is perfect for riding. On the other hand, riding a bicycle in L.A. means traffic, sporadic bike lanes and aggressive drivers who don’t respect cyclists.
That’s why all of these rides take place on roads that are entirely car-free or have light traffic. They’ll also work for folks of all fitness levels. They are listed, roughly, in ascending order of difficulty, from a pleasant summer evening spin to a sweaty mountainous excursion. And we’ve included Google Maps hyperlinks to all the routes. Happy pedaling!
Cogswell Dam
Let’s start out with the one you probably don’t know about.
In the San Gabriel Mountains above Azusa is the gorgeous 7.5-mile Devils Canyon Dam Truck Trail. This gentle climbing from Highway 39 to the Cogswell Dam is one of the most beautiful rides in all of Southern California.
The road itself parallels a small but always audible creek, fed by the upriver dam. Often shaded by trees and mountains, the road offers riders a cool, relaxed ride. No cell service here. It’s just you, your bike, a bubbling brook and the San Gabriel Mountains. Picnic tables are plentiful along the road, so you can stop and nosh or take it all in. Remember that you’re in the Angeles National Forest, and any trash you bring in, you’ll have to pack out.
As for the difficulty, the between Highway 39 and the dam has a gentle slope. You probably won’t even notice the grade until you turn around and realize you’re going faster. If you want to go up to the dam itself, there’s a short, steep grade at the end of the road but the first 7 miles of the road are the main attraction. This is an easy, low intensity ride so bring the kids.
Aside from its haunting beauty, the road is closed to all public vehicular traffic. You might pass a car or truck driven by a public works employee but they’re courteous and know to look out for cyclists and hikers. Pedestrian traffic, especially on weekends, can be high for the first mile or so. Once you get past the main recreation and fishing areas, it’s like you’re alone in the forest.
Directions: You’re going into the mountains for this one, so you’ll need a car is. Exit the 210 freeway (in Azusa) at Azusa Avenue/Highway 39. Orient your car north (towards the mountains) and keep driving. The road you’re looking for will be 20ish minutes from the freeway, just past the junction of Highway 39 and East Fork Road (you’ll see a bridge). Here’s a Google Maps linkwith the precise location of the dam road. You can park on the side of the road, or in a parking lot a quarter of a mile back off Highway 39.
Ballona Creek Bike Path
Running from Culver City to Playa Del Rey, the Ballona Creek path lets Angelenos ride 7.4 car-free miles straight to the beach. The path picks up close to the intersection of Jefferson and National boulevards, where it’s bumpy and in poor condition for the first mile or so. Your best bet is to get on the path at Duquesne Avenue in Culver City, and head for the beach.
If you’re going in the afternoon, you’ll likely have to deal with a light headwind while heading west. On the bright side, this will turn into a great tailwind on your way back. You’ll find drinking fountains along the pathway, in adjacent parks and parklets.
For extra credit, stop at the Baldwin Hills Stairs and Scenic Overlook, at the intersection of Hetzler Road and Jefferson Boulevard. It’s a great outdoor park without the pretension of someother hiking areas in L.A. There are plenty of bike racks at the bottom of the stairs, but if you’re feeling particularly daring, try riding up to the top on Hetzler.
Directions: Parking is plentiful along Duquesne Avenue and in the neighborhood near the start of the path. If you fancy yourself more a car-free type, the Expo Line also runs nearby. From the La Cienega Station, ride southwest along Jefferson (which has a good bike lane, just watch out for doors) until it intersects with Duquesne, at which point you’ll turn right. Alternatively, the La Cienega Station is close to the start of the Ballona Path, so you don’t need to ride on Jefferson at all, if you don’t want to. There are also entry points at most major streets (and some residential ones) that the path crosses on its way to the beach. Play with the maps to see what works best for you.
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